About the Opportunity

The Sr. Scientist – Chemistry will be responsible for managing and leading plant metabolomics research at Driscoll’s main research facility in Watsonville, California. Research will involve study of volatile and nonvolatile components of fresh fruit and their relationship to consumer perception of quality. Results of metabolomics studies will be used with genomics and transcriptomics data to advance genetic and variety development for small fruit crops.

The person in this position will be part of a multidisciplinary team to develop innovative approaches for common R&D goals.

About the Company

Driscoll's is the leading supplier and marketer of organic and conventional strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in the world. A fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company, Driscoll’s has built upon the genetic work and innovation of our founders to fulfill our mission to ‘Continually Delight Berry Consumers.’ We utilize traditional plant breeding methods to create plant varieties (genetic breeds) that produce ONLY THE FINEST BERRIES™. This plant material is then patented, cultivated in Driscoll’s nurseries and supplied to our independent farmer partners around the world to grow Driscoll’s brand berries. 

 Driscoll’s company culture is rooted in our mission, values, and commitment to creating a supportive work environment that fosters open and friendly communication, encourages collaboration and team interaction, and provides clear focus and direction. 

 At Driscoll’s, we’re committed to Growing Great People. This means that we help our employees learn about and support our overall business strategies. We also provide opportunities for individuals to grow along with the company. Most importantly, Driscoll’s encourages our employees to achieve their career growth and cultivate their personal well-being. For more information about our company, including our Mission and Values, please go to www.driscolls.com.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead plant metabolomics lab and research efforts
• Establish appropriate extraction techniques and high throughput methodology for generating fruit metabolite phenotyping data
• Work with plant breeders in metabolite profiling of diverse fruit germplasm
• Work closely with sensory analyst to identify key drivers of fruit quality
• Interact with molecular genetics and bioinformatics groups to develop markers for fruit quality traits
• Interact with outside collaborators as needed on various research projects
• Document experiments in an electronic lab notebook
• Summarize and communicate data with cooperating staff and management
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or plant physiology
• Minimum of two years post-doctoral or work experience in biology, food science, or agriculture related field
• Proficiency in sample preparation and extraction techniques
• Experience using chromatographic separation techniques involving HPLC, GC-MS, O-GC, LC-MS
• Experience in study design and multivariate data analysis
• Knowledge of bioinformatics and biostatistics tools and databases
• Ability to liaise effectively with external research collaborators
• Excellent communication skills in English

To Apply, please visit our website at http://driscolls.mploy.com/mploy/mlink/jobdetail.aspx?idjob=2037 via our Career Page.

Please also send a cover letter and resume in Word or PDF format to Cassandra.carvajal@driscolls.com.